Andy Reid says Patrick Mahomes is ‘doing great,’ but Chiefs ‘have to be smart’
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Coach Andy Reid said Patrick Mahomes is 'doing great' but cautioned to be smart.
- Mahomes is limited to meetings, lifting and rehab during Phase One of offseason work.
- The Chiefs expect Justin Fields to handle QB duties early if Mahomes is still recovering.
On Monday, the Kansas City Chiefs began Phase One of their offseason program. In Phase One, players return to the building to meet with the coaching staff and begin their strength-and-conditioning programs.
Through all three phases, quarterback Patrick Mahomes is expected to be limited as he recovers from the torn ACL and LCL injuries he suffered in mid-December. On a Zoom call with local media members, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid provided a brief update on Mahomes.
“He goes to meetings, he can lift, do all of that (and) rehab,” Reid said of Mahomes. “That’s the phase he is in right now, so we will just see. (We’ll) play it by ear and see where he is at. He’s doing great, but we just have to be smart with this thing.”
Throughout the process, the Chiefs have maintained that Mahomes’ rehab and recovery have been going well. It’s still unclear how much the quarterback will participate in Phase Two, which includes individual drills and on-field coaching.
The club’s goal is for Mahomes to be ready for the start of the 2026 season in September. In the meantime, backup Justin Fields is expected to handle QB duties.
Kansas City traded a 2027 sixth-round pick to the New York Jets for Fields in mid-March.
“I appreciate Justin and the way he has gone about everything so far,” Reid said. “He’s been great with everything. I don’t know him as well as I will have known him once we get through a few weeks here. I like from afar what I’ve seen. I like when I’ve met with him, what I’ve seen.”
Reid wanted to be clear that the Chiefs brought Fields in to be more than a gadget player with special packages, calling him a “legitimate starting quarterback” in the NFL.
“We’re lucky enough to have him here,” Reid said. “And if that’s the role that he plays early in the season, we have full confidence that he can do a great job with that. So far, I would tell you. That’s how I look at it. I will get to know him better as we go forward, but I like what I’ve seen so far. I also had the heads up by (former offensive coordinator) Matt (Nagy) when he had him in Chicago on how he’s wired and that was all positive.”
